Apparatus for use in the catalytic oxidation of gases



July 11, 1933. A. P. BEARDSLEY APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE CATALYTIC OXIDATION OF GASES Filed Nov. 21,1950

INVENTOR ma Patented July 11, 1933 nUNITED STATES Pnrlzufrorricr.v

ALLING P. IBEARDSLEY, OF PLAINFIELD,

New JERSEY, AssreNoR ro THE lCALCO CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC., OF BOUND BROOK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OIE' DELAWARE APPARATUS FOR 'USE IN THE CATALY'IIU OXIDA'IION GASES Application mea November 21, 1930 serialY No. 497,102.

This invention Vrelates to apparatus for use in the catalytic oxidation of gases, and aims particularly to provide improved converter apparatus for use in the contact method of making sulphuric acid.

In the catalytic oxidation of sulphur dioxide to sulphur' trioxide, the velocity of the reaction increases rapidly with increase of temperature, while, on the other hand, the percentage of conversion at equilibrium decreases with increase of temperature. In order to obtain both rapid vand substantially complete conversion, it isdesirable that the stream of gases be passed through the catalytic mass at a diminishing temperature, which on early contact o1' the gases with the catalytic mass is high enough to cause a rapid conversion, and on later contact with the catalytic mass is low enough to cause a high percentage of conversion. Since the reaction creates heat, maintaining such a temperature gradientV in the stream of gases passing through the catalytic mass requires the withdrawal of heat from the stream at progressively diminishing rat-es during the progress of the stream through the catalytic mass. To attain idealL conditions, the rate of the withdrawal of heat from the stream should be a diminishing logarithmic function of the flow of the gases through the catalytic mass.

The present invention provides a simple converter of the tray type in which this ideal condition may be approximated in practice. In order to illustrate the invention, I will describe in detail a specific embodiment of it which is shown in the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows in vertical section a` converter 10 embodying the invention, and indicates diagrammatically another converter and a heat exchanger through which Vthe gases may be passed be- 'lore entering the converter 10.

The converter 10 shown in the drawing consists of a cylindrical casing through which the gases to be converted flow from an inlet opening 11 at one end or the converter to an outlet opening 12 at its other end. A series of separated catalyticv masses 13 are supported on foraminous trays or screens 14 in the-converter 10 in such manner that the gases ypass through all the masses 1n series. Y

Between its ends, the converter 10 is surrounded by a cooling jacket 15. To provide for the How of cooling medium through theconverter in the same general direction as that in which the gases to be converted flow through the converter, the cooling jacketr is provided with an inlet opening 16 near the end of the jacket which is nearest the converter inlet opening 11, and with an outlet opening 17 near the end of the jacket which is nearest the converter outlet opening 12. To Vavoid circumlocution, I shall refer to the location of the jacke-t inlet opening 16 as at the inlet end o the converter7 and to the jacket outlet opening'17 as at the outlet end of the converter, which expressions should beunderstood not to imply that the jacketis necessarily ofthe same length as the converter nor that the jacket inlet and outlet openings are immediately adj acent to its corresponding opening in the converter.

Means are provided for circulating a cooling medium through the cooling jacket from its inlet opening 16 to its outlet opening 17. In the form shown, such means include a blower'18 having its discharge connected to the inlet opening 16. Partial recirculation of the cooling medium is made possible by connecting the inlet of the blower with valvecontrolled branches 19, 20, leading respectively from the outlet opening 17 and from a supply of cooling medium. The cooling medium used may be air, or may be gases to be converted, if the latter are supplied at a comparatively low temperature.

The cooling jacket 15 is divided into a number of separate annular chambers by partitions 21, each containing a restricted opening 22 to permit the cooling` gas to pass through all the separate annular chambers in series. The partitions make it possible to secure a generally downward flow of the cooling gas through the jacket, notwithstandino` the fact that the temperature of the cooling gas increases toward the bottom of the jacket so that thermostatic forces tend to create an upward flow. The openings 22 in 4 successive partitionsare located at diametrically opposite points to cause a Zig-Zag tlow of the cooling medium, bringing it into intimate contact with the wall of the converter in each annular chamber.

he drawing illustrates the use of the converter l() as a secondary converter. In such use, the gases to be converted, such sulphur dioxide and oxygen, are partially con" verted and partially cooled by passing them through a primary converter' P and a cooler U and are then passed through the converter vfrom its inlet opening l1 to its outlet opening l2, As the gases pass through each mass 13 of catalytic material, further conversion takes place. The conversion occurring in each catalytic mass generates heat, but 'the heat generated in each mass is less than that generated in the preceding mass. The cooling medium flowing through the annular chambers oi the cooling jacket absorbs heat YfromV the gases flowing through the converter, and`is therefore, warmer in each successive annular chamber than it was in the preceding chamber. rIhe increase in the temperature of the coolin g medium, of course, decreases its cooling effect, Therefore, the cooling eifect is greatest `where the greatest heat is generated. By proper regu-' lat-ion of the supply and initial temperature of the cooling mediunnthe heat absorbed by the cooling medium from the stream of converter gases after its contact with each catalytic mass is made slightly greater than the heat generated in that mass, so that the stream of gases has a diminishing tempera:- ture gradient, which has the desirable effect of causing rapid conversion in the initial masses and substantially complete conversion in the final masses.

What is claimed is:

l. In apparatus for the catalytic oxidation of gases, a converter having an inlet opening at its top and an 'outlet opening at its bottom and containing a plurality of spaced cata lytic masses arranged in series, baffling means for directing the gases leaving each catalytic inass into contact w'th the converter shell before passing through the succeeding mass, a cooling jacket surrounding the converter and having an inlet opening at its top and an outlet opening at its bottom, means for forcing a cooling medium into the jacket through its inlet opening, and a plurality of horizontal .partitions containing vrestricted openings located in the jacket to cause a generally downward ilow of the cooling medium through the jacket. i

Q. In apparatus for the catalytic oxidation of gases, a converter having inlet and outlet openings at opposite ends thereof 'and containing a plurality of spaced catalytic masses arranged in series, baii'iing means v*for directing the gases leaving each catalytic mass into contact with the converter shell before passing through the succeeding mass, means providing a plurality of chambers surrounding said converter between its ends, and means for causing a cooling medium to flow through said chambers in series from the chamber nearest theinlet end of the converter to the chamber `nearest the outlet end thereof.

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALLING r. BEARDSLEY. 

